Sunday, September 06, 2015

Here are some very simple observations
about the episode of Horizon that was broadcast on the electric television this
week concerning the topic of the multiverse (the idea that our universe is one of
an infinite number of universes).

I was a little distracted by the fact that
Katherine Parkinson was the narrator. I have seen her act in many productions,
but listening to her voice I found it impossible to not visualise her as Jen
from the IT Crowd, and expected Moss to take over at any minute.

Anyway, the hypothesis discussed is based
upon the behaviour of particles in quantum mechanics where they appear to be
both waves and particles simultaneously. Physicists are baffled by this, and
one theory which is supported by some of the cleverest people on the planet is
that there are an infinite number of universes in which every action that
occurs causes a division of the physical at that point to cover every possible
eventuality. This is far more complex than the simplistic example used in the
programme in which a physicist used the example that, on the toss of a coin, he
could either remain in the interview that was taking place, or leave. From this
comes the idea of the infinite number of universes. For every micro-event since
the Big Bang (and why not before?) there is a universe out there which shows
the outcome of that event and every possible subsequent one.

Of course this is no new theory. I do not
read much science fiction but the idea of parallel universes is not uncommon.

I am sure that all of you are familiar with
the Ramacharitamanasa (if not please go and read it before continuing this)
where Bhusundi describes being swallowed by Ram and experiencing infinite
universes therein.

If there are infinite universes, then there
must be an infinite number of them in which the theory of the multiverse has
already been proved. Equally, there must be an infinite number of universes
where it has been incontrovertibly proved to be total nonsense.

There are even universes out there in which
people read this.

In other words it is beyond my
comprehension. I have dwelt on it briefly and will now go back to preparing myself
for the Rugby World Cup.